Friday, August 30, 2013

Antique Doilies and MOP Spool

I can never help myself when it comes to finding vintage notions and handmade items. I found this Mother of Pearl Spool and antique doily that my 80 year old acquaintance's mother hand crocheted this beautiful doily when she was very young. It is about 40 years old.



Des Histoires A Broder

I am having so much fun stitching this project from




Saturday, August 24, 2013

Textile Spools

I went back to my little Old Country Cupboard for more textile spools. I love them. Aren't they great?

I am also juggling a few projects. I am making strips for my empty wood spools. I did mess up at the very bottom but that's ok. There is a lot going on on the same strip.


My gift finally arrived to JULIA from Vintage with Laces all the way to Albania. I forgot top snap a photo of all the treasures I sent her except for this Pinkeep.




I purchased these strips from Atelier Stekkjes en Kruisjes. They are 25 mm wide.


Tuesday, August 20, 2013

New Fabrics and Ribbons

I ordered fabrics and linen ribbons from the Netherlands and they are so beautiful. They came from


They even through in a few gifts, like a sewing machine charm, an antique lace monogram and small gift tags. One of the tags is a small cross stitch grid. The fabric with the cherubs is gorgeous and it feels like linen. I recommend you order this or any other from this webstore.






Pin Cushions

I made this pin cushion using 28 count Cashel linen in natural color using DMC 931 and Ecru. I zipped up the edges using 931 backstitch and Ecru Biscornu style. I did also iron on some light interfacing so the pins did not get lost in there and added an antique shell button. Next time I think I will use crushed walnut shells.
I had a lot of left over pieces of fabric so I made lots of pin cushions and some shabby chic flowers just in case I need a gift on a whim.






Saturday, August 17, 2013

Antique Spools

My husband and I were driving in the country and found this antique shop that carried textile spools and other things. I found some great vintage silk threads, textile spools and even really old linen so cheap that I only spent $10.00 for everything. They should have given it for free it was so cheap.






Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Antique Pincushion & hat pins

My new pincushion was a mile high full of dust so I carefully removed all the pins and snipped the threads to remove the cover off the pillow. I then soaked it in Oxyclean for 2 days and restitched it up. Some of the cross stitches were torn so I restitched them as well. Turns out they used DMC 3750 on 30 count cream linen. One of my favorite colors.
 Here are the results.

BEFORE:


AFTER: 






 My antique Florenza Needle Minder

I plan to buy a hat pin holder for all the beautiful hat pins that I have.

Monday, August 12, 2013

Antique Pin Cushion

I was in an old woman's house today and she is french. She collects so many antiques. I admired a few things. She is so generous that she gave them to me.

This antique cross stitched pin pillow is very old. One pin stood out among the rest.

She also gave me an embroidered beaded butterfly keep. It has metal threads and beads on Jacquard fabric.
I am in love.
Antique Cross Stitched Pin Pillow


Ivory woman Pin





Sunday, August 11, 2013

MOP Buttons

I have so many beautiful Mother of Pearl buttons in my collection that I want to display them. I think I want to make a Buttons Brag Book. A really nice cross stitch pattern.

These are some of my favorite buttons with more coming in the mail.



Metal Button with Glass Center


MOP Buttons in my jars


Thursday, August 8, 2013

Linen Button Card

Just fooling around with some patchwork linen I ordered. It was on sale because it was the last piece. It would have looked a lot prettier on the rose color instead of the green. So here it is. On the back I used just plain linen and a piece of vintage lace. It was thin and felt like pantyhose that's why I used it.

I also picked up this interesting button with pearls and jems. It needs to be cleaned though. The matching button lost its pearls so I did not buy it.









Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Blue Cotton Girl Pinkeep

I made this Pinkeep for a great blogger who volunteered a couple of vintage monogram appliques. I looked high and low for my initials and I could not find them. The same with the red double letter monogram laundry tapes. I saw one on her website and asked if she could spare it and she sent it right away to me.
Thank you Julia from Vintage with Laces. I did this french design for you in antique blue since I know how much you love french designs.
I used an antique brass curtain clip to hold the top. I love doing this design. It is fast and perfect size. I already did one in red.

I think I will buy some more.